85

B.—l

Euclid. —Fifteen papers were excellent, nine were very good, six were good, and one was fair. Such results in algebra and Euclid are' proof of the zeal and skill of the teacher, and of rare diligence on the part of the scholars. Temuka. English. —One paper was excellent, five were very good, three were good, one was fair, and one was moderate. The scholars did well in viva voce work. French. —Two papers were excellent, five were very good, and three were good. All the papers showed that the work was carefully prepared. Latin. —Four papers were excellent and nine were very good, a result that speaks well for the quality of the instruction. Algebra. —Eleven papers were excellent, two were very good, one was good, and one was moderate. Euclid. —Seven papers were excellent, six were very good, one was good, and one was moderate. The quality of the work in algebra and Euclid reflects great credit on the teacher and the pupils. I have, &c, James Gibson Gow, M.A., Inspector. The Chairman, South Canterbury Board of Education.

OTAGO. Sib,— Education Office, Dunedin, 31st March, 1899. In accordance with the provisions of section 102 of "The Education Act, 1877," the Education Board of the District of Otago has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings for the year 1898 : — Boaed. —At the beginning of the year the Board was composed of the following members: Mr. John F. M. Fraser, the Hon. John MacGregor, Messrs. Henry Clark, Donald Borrie, Andrew McKerrow, John Mcßae Gallaway, John J. Bamsay, William Snow, and the Bey. P. B. Fraser. Messrs. Borrie, Clark, and McKerrow retired in terms of section 15 of the Education Act. Mr. McKerrow did not offer himself for re-election. Nine candidates were nominated by the School Committees for the vacancies, and the voting in February resulted in the election of Dr. William Brown, Messrs. Henry Harraway and James Sim. At the first meeting of the Board in April Dr. Brown was appointed Chairman. In May Mr. J. F. M. Fraser resigned his seat, and Mr. James Mitchell was elected to fill the vacancy. The Board held twenty-five meetings during the year. Mr. J. F. M. Fraser and Mr. John M. Gallaway were reappointed members of the Board of Governors of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools, and Mr. Donald Borrie was reappointed the Board's representative on the Waitaki High Schools Board. Mr. James Green continues to represent the Board as Education Beserves Commissioner. Numbee of Schools. —At the close of 1897 there were 220 schools in operation in the district. Five schools were permanently closed, and four new schools opened. The schools at Bound Hill, Waiwera, Adam's Flat, Kawarau, and Inch Valley were closed owing to the removal of the children of school age from the district. New schools were opened at Tarara, Purakauiti, Sutton, and Clydevale. The number of schools in operation at the end of the year was 219. In addition to the schools opened during the year, the Board has sanctioned the establishment of schools at Momona, Tokarahi, Akatore Coast, and Deep Stream. At the end of the year buildings were in course of erection at Momona and Deep Stream. Tbachees.—There were in the Board's service on the 31st December 543 teachers (223 male and 288 female) and 88 pupil-teachers (28 male and 60 female). The examination of applicants for employment as pupil-teachers was held in December, when no fewer than 122 candidates presented themselves. Out of this number fifty-seven passed the prescribed tests, and six boys and thirteen girls received appointments. School Attendance. —The following is an abstract of the attendance at the public schools of this district from the institution "of the Otago education scheme, in the year 1856, to the present time. At the beginning of 1878 the new Education District of Southland was created, and thirtyseven schools were handed over to the newly formed Board : —

Year. ,a o CD a o o o a 3 •A Number of Pupils who attended at all in the Course of the Year. Average Daily Attenda: the Year nee for Attendar at the Close Year. ice of the DO Is o H a 3 Q <] CO O H a _P_ r/i 1856-57 ... 1867 1877 1887 1897 1898 5 56 173 183 220 219 7 85 356 511 559 543 1,216 3,191 6,136 5,277 5,232 3,151 16,422 22,742 22,104 21,733 4,367 19,613 28,878 27,381 26,965 115 897 2,176 4,148 3,717 3,622 121 2,045 9,573 15,110 15,643 14,914 236 2,942 11,749 19,258 19,360 18,536 919 2,585 4,648 4,060 3,979 2,436 11,943 18,032 17,727 17,205 3,355 14,528 22,680 21,787 21,184